The Cleveland Browns turned to backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders for his first start of the season in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. The Browns dropped a 23-22 decision in overtime, and now the quarterback conversation in Cleveland has a little more life to it heading into Week 10 against the Houston Texans.

Sanders completed 19-of-31 passes for 297 yards and two touchdown passes against New Orleans. It was an up-and-down day overall. Sanders made a couple of big throws, but rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston did a lot of the heavy lifting with yards after the catch. Sanders was also sacked five times, and some of those came on his own accord.

Why Shedeur Sanders got the start for the Browns

Sanders got the nod because Browns QB Deshaun Watson entered the concussion protocol early last week. Watson initially didn’t have symptoms from a hit he took against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Watson did clear the protocol, Cleveland opted to sit him out of the Saints game in his own best interest.

To begin this week, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Watson would return as the starter in Week 10 against the Texans, his old team. However, Browns coach Todd Monken wasn’t ready to make anything official.

Monken was asked if he’s ready to name a starter for Sunday’s game against Houston, and he said he is not. When asked about his thinking behind holding off, Monken pointed to where the staff is in the weekly process.

“I really haven’t thought through it other than getting through this morning’s tape,” Monken said early week. “We just got done meeting with the guys. They’ll flush the game, and then we’ll have a chance to meet offensively more extensively a little bit later today. Just, we went through the tape immediately, had to break go with personnel. Then the team comes in, and we haven’t had a chance to circle back as an offensive staff.”

Todd Monken not committing to Deshaun Watson opens the door, even if not in Week 9

I take this as Monken not wanting to commit to Watson just from a game-planning standpoint with the Texans. That’s a more than fair explanation coming off an overtime loss and now in to the final game before the bye week.

Still, Monken not committing to Watson shows the door is open for the Browns to make a quarterback change soon. The timing lines up for it, too. Cleveland heads into a Week 11 bye after the Texans game and then gets the Las Vegas Raiders coming out of the off week. Depending on how Watson plays against Houston, the bye could be the natural spot for a shift.

Watson is averaging 225.8 passing yards per game with 1,806 passing yards, seven touchdown passes, and three interceptions. Those numbers aren’t going to set the world on fire, and it gives Sanders’ a chance to show what he can do in a multi-game sample size at some point this year.

Both Browns quarterbacks have been heavily sacked when they’ve been on the field. That falls on the offensive line, but it also falls on Watson and Sanders. Both are prone to taking unnecessary sacks, and that hasn’t changed regardless of who is under center.

Developing the young playmakers matters most for Cleveland

Either way, the Browns need to put the best quarterback on the field. That means someone who not only gives Cleveland a chance to win games this season, but who also gets the ball to the young playmakers who need to develop.

Concepcion, Boston, and TE Harold Fannin Jr. are the big weapons on this team and the future of the offense. All three players put on a clinic of what they can do after the catch against New Orleans.

Developing those three for the future quarterback, whoever that ends up being beyond this season, is the most important thing the Browns can do this season. Watson looks like he’ll get the crack against Houston, but Monken’s answer leaves Cleveland’s options open going into the bye.